Pride of New York Harvest Fest ends Sunday

Syracuse, NY -- All that’s great about New York state food, wine and beer is in the Horticulture Building at the state fairgrounds this weekend during the Pride of New York Harvest Fest.

Visitors came Saturday to eat and drink their way from Buffalo through the Southern Tier, from the Hudson Valley and north to Central New York and the North Country. All in one place.

Sue Santamarino, of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, said more than 100 vendors are taking part. Many vendors had to be turned away.

“We have some new vendors through word-of-mouth from last year,” Santamarino said. “They thought participating would be very beneficial to them.”

The goal of Harvest Fest is twofold — vendors get a chance to show off their products and attendees can sample the food and drink the state has to offer. The event this year has more breweries than last year and a lot of specialty food items and desserts.

“Everyone has such unique products,” Santamarino said.

That definitely can be said of Al Williams, whose family runs Rome Grown Garlic in Rome, Oneida County. The family has been growing its garlic in the deep, rich, black mucklands in Rome for about 25 years.

“If people don’t come to this show, they are missing out on the niche type of food products,” he said. “God knows that each year, there’s more new products. The show is good for us and good for them (the show attendees).”

The fest continues from noon to 5 p.m. today. There also is a Bounty Basket that will be given away at 5 p.m. to one attendee who signs up when entering the show. The basket includes one item from each of the more than 100 vendors.